Corpus Callosum Holes
Karen L. Salzman, MD
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
Common
Multiple Sclerosis
Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)
Less Common
Post-Surgical
ADEM
Obstructive Hydrocephalus
Lacunar Infarction
Rare but Important
Enlarged Perivascular Spaces
Marchiafava-Bignami Disease
Susac Syndrome
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
Helpful Clues for Common Diagnoses
Multiple Sclerosis
Callososeptal interface T2 hyperintensities
“Burned out” chronic lesions have T1 hypointense center, very slight hyperintense rim (lesion within lesion)
Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)
Punctate hemorrhages at gray-white interfaces & corpus callosum (CC) typical
“Blooming” on T2*, GRE, SWI common
May result in focal encephalomalacia
Helpful Clues for Less Common Diagnoses
Post-Surgical
Small CC “holes” common after shunt
Defects may result from transcallosal surgery (e.g., for colloid cyst)
ADEM
Both subcortical white matter (WM), deep gray nuclei often involved
May mimic multiple sclerosis
Obstructive Hydrocephalus
Dorsal, middle layers may show T1 hypointense & T2 hyperintense signal
May be related to CC compression against falx during acute ventricular obstruction
Lacunar Infarction
Uncommon; rich blood supply to CC
Focal ischemia with surrounding gliosis
Supplied by anterior communicating artery, pericallosal artery, & posterior pericallosal artery
Helpful Clues for Rare Diagnoses
Enlarged Perivascular Spaces
Follow CSF on all sequences
When CC involved, adjacent brain often involved
Marchiafava-Bignami Disease
Rare complication of chronic alcoholism; CC demyelination & necrosis
T2 hyperintense CC (middle layers) virtually pathognomonicStay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel
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